Rioli, Dew join AFL Hawks

Strong ties with Port Adelaide and one of the strongest
bloodlines in the AFL highlighted Hawthorn's draft day.

The Hawks recruited small forward Cyril "Junior Boy" Rioli in
round one at No.12 and later, after a long deliberation, drew some
gasps from the audience when they went ahead with their left-field
plan to give Stuart Dew a comeback.

The 2004 Power premiership player has been out of the game for a
year and, as noted by one rival club this week, was never someone
noted for his fitness fanaticism.

But Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson in particular has a high
regard for the forward and Hawthorn could certainly do with more
experience.

Clarkson was an assistant coach at Port before taking over at
Hawthorn in late `04.

"The coach was very keen to get Stuart on board because, with
what is the youngest list in the competition, we're just conscious
of bringing these young guys through," said Hawks personnel manager
Chris Pelchen.

"While it is a risk and probably a slight deviation from our
strategic model, there's no doubt about that, the fact is that
Stuart with his experience of playing at the highest level ... we
think it's a worthwhile risk."

Dew was renowned for his kicking for goal, particularly from
outside 50m, and he will also work closely with Hawthorn's young
forwards.

"There was a great challenge put down to him from a fitness
point of view, because Stuart had certainly lost his fitness,"
Pelchen said.

"He's still got a long way to go, so we'll put him on a very,
very strict program.

"He's almost like an assistant coach out on the ground for us,
because he will be our second-oldest player at the club."

The Hawks certainly are going into this with their eyes wide
open - Pelchen, fitness coach Andrew Russell and assistant coach
Geoff Morris also worked with Dew at Port.

While the 28-year-old Dew prepares for his comeback, 18-year-old
Rioli will now try to draw on his outstanding pedigree and realise
some rare potential.

His close relatives include former Richmond star midfielder
Maurice Rioli (uncle), Essendon legend Michael Long (uncle) and
former Essendon forward Dean Rioli (cousin).

His father, Cyril "Junior" Rioli, was a star footballer in the
Northern Territory.

Junior Boy made the under-18 All-Australian team this year.

"We rated Cyril in our best six in this draft, most recruiters
would understand how much talent Cyril has," Pelchen said.

"There's been a question mark over his fitness base, we're aware
of that and we know there's a lot of work to do.

"We think just with that extreme talent and the fact we do need
a crumbing forward ... it was an ideal fit."

Rioli also only played for Scotch College in Melbourne this
year, rather than develop at one of the TAC teams, and Pelchen
feels this also might have counted against him going earlier in the
draft.

The Hawks picked up Dew at No.45, while Queensland utility
Brendan Whitecross was their second selection at No.29.